Chapter 42, Minilith Summary

Dr. Floyd dreams and extends the conversation from the Captain's Table. In his dream, he defends making the radio message to Europa that requests permission to land. He also sees a floating monolith about the size of a gravestone.

Chapter 42, Minilith Analysis

The radio message to Bowman having been made, Dr. Floyd might be receiving his symbolic answer in the form of a small floating monolith, the minilith. The power of the monolith is well known. Monoliths can spark the evolution of high intelligence and transform worlds. Therefore, the monolith might be able to communicate within a person's dreams.